Sad dog

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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17 August 2005
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Pen is now 2 and has always been a sensitive dog, which can be a bit tiring. Recently it has got much worse. She has messed in the house three nights on the trot and subsequently put back in the cage, where she is clean. She sits or stands with her head and tail hanging.
If you speak to her she is still bright and responsive but left alone she looks tragic.
The only change is Ffee is getting older, but she is only 6 months. Pen does take any instruction to any dog very personally, all I can think of is Ffee now comes on a walk with us and do there is a certain amount of ‘leave it you skank’ being shouted.
Any ideas? She never has been a life and soul of the party type but this is awful.
 
Is she neutered? I’d be thinking possible pyometra.... but then bear in mind I’m paranoid and always think that 🙄

I’d definitely have her to the vet for a check over, she sounds to be quite out of sorts
 
Thanks TW that’s good news 😊 Millie lurcher is a clingy dependent sort for all her bull**** and bravado & she went through a stage like this (not being dirty inside, she never does that, but looking sad) when I adopted Marty..... lots of attention and TLC and she was back to normal!
 
Thank you all for your thoughts. I was on my phone earlier so didn't say everything.
The poos are normal, just on the carpet! She is bright eyed, cold nosed, not hot, normal pulse, tummy feels fine to poking.
During the day she is cheery, except for at times where she feels Ffee might do somethnig 'bad'. For instance, at breakfast Pen lies down next to OH's chair and the others can do what they like as long as they not sitting and staring. The older two go and lie in their beds but Ffee will usually chew one of her toys in her bed in the kitchen, which is fine, but Pen obviously worries about it. Seriously, the dogs never get told off, in case we sound awful! The most is a 'Go and lie down'.
The worst time is when we go through the front in the evening to watch tv. Ffee usually gets her second wind, having caught a quick power nap during our supper, and charges around playing with her toys and trying to get me to play with them too. We don't mind, it makes me laugh, but Pen feels this is totally unacceptable. That is when the real 'dying dog in a thunderstorm' (as my mum calls it) comes about.
One other thing over the last two weeks is OH is doing a lot of prep work for the shoot and he has been taking Ffee and Pen with him, historically he did everything with Pen alone. Pen loves these 'me' times and I think she is missing those. OH is going to go back to taking her out on her own. Walking seperately is difficult when I am at work so she may have to suck that up.
I think TW hit the nail on the head.
Thank you, it clarifies it seeing it written down, and your suggestions.
 
The dying dog in a thunderstorm is well known in this house! Floyd went on hunger strike for 3 days, just decided my partner was evil and to be avoided at all costs, but only at meal times. The rest of the time he was all over him like a rash. If I went and stood in the kitchen it was ok, but otherwise he was at serious risk of being murdered apparently. Turns out my OH had taken to wearing headphones while he fed the dogs and washed up etc, and this was not acceptable to Floyd. I can laugh now but at the time I was worried sick and was about to accuse the OH of doing something horrible to Floyd.
 
Leo Walker said:
The dying dog in a thunderstorm is well known in this house! Floyd went on hunger strike for 3 days, just decided my partner was evil and to be avoided at all costs, but only at meal times. The rest of the time he was all over him like a rash. If I went and stood in the kitchen it was ok, but otherwise he was at serious risk of being murdered apparently. Turns out my OH had taken to wearing headphones while he fed the dogs and washed up etc, and this was not acceptable to Floyd. I can laugh now but at the time I was worried sick and was about to accuse the OH of doing something horrible to Floyd.
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I think Pen has an inner whippet Diva!
 
my collie cross is very sensitive and i have to tell my terrier off very quietly as she gets very upset if i raise my voice. she has hardly ever been told off herself as i think she was born trained, the only time is if she is either eating something foul or rolling in it...some dogs are just ultra sensitive.
 
Hmm. Zak, in the past, sulked for a good couple of days when bollocked, but is much more resilient now. Perhaps Pen just feels she is having her nose put out of joint by Ffee?
 
I have no advice or suggestions (was going to suggest physical checks but you've got that covered... ) but I hope she's feeling a bit better soon. One to one time sounds good.
 
Sorry to read of your troubles with Pen, Clodagh. Over sensitive dogs can be as much of a pain as insensitive ones!
As above, and your own thoughts really, I bet she just doesn’t cope with exuberant pup. Some one to one would be good but she will have to learn to live with the puppy antics. I don’t often speak sharply to any of mine but if I do, the others ears go down and I find myself reassuring them that they are not in trouble! Flatcoats are lively, full of fun but sensitive!
I wonder if the pup fidgets at night and worries Pen which makes her get up and make a mess?
 
Chiffy said:
I wonder if the pup fidgets at night and worries Pen which makes her get up and make a mess?
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They are in seperate rooms. She was clean last night, first night out of the cage for a few. It is obviously me and the Yellows causing it as last night OH was in gis study and she was asleep in a basket in the room, but not under his feet, as then I came in and she immediately got under his legs and bought out the DDITT outfit. I hope that is because Ffee was with me.
 
Oh dear Clodagh, I don’t know what to suggest. They always say with needy ones, not to pander to them but just treat them normally. Let’s hope it’s a passing phase!
 
Chiffy said:
Oh dear Clodagh, I don’t know what to suggest. They always say with needy ones, not to pander to them but just treat them normally. Let’s hope it’s a passing phase!
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I am ignoring her, but it is rather galling. We went for a walk this afternoon and Pen keeps shooting me these sideways glances...I am in her bad books!
 
Clodagh said:
I am ignoring her, but it is rather galling. We went for a walk this afternoon and Pen keeps shooting me these sideways glances...I am in her bad books!
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I tried ignoring Millie and it just didn’t work - whatever the book says she clearly hasn’t read it lol 😆 As soon as I gave her a bit of attention she settled again - not excessive amounts and not spoiling her more than the others, just making sure I singled her out several times a day for some fuss, she loved it
 
Levrier said:
I tried ignoring Millie and it just didn’t work - whatever the book says she clearly hasn’t read it lol 😆 As soon as I gave her a bit of attention she settled again - not excessive amounts and not spoiling her more than the others, just making sure I singled her out several times a day for some fuss, she loved it
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I don't ignore her when she is being normal, just when she is being a plank!
 
I can't really offer any advice Clodagh because I've never been in your situation. It has made me realise though, how easily the Peril's introduction went at 14 months to our then 11 year old and 15 year old and that I can't take for granted that that will always be the case. Spot loved Peril like a mother from day one, Jake was slightly more aloof, as is his way, but within two days they were sharing toys and sleeping in a big multicoloured Labrador huddle. We referred to them as the Oreo's because the 2 blacks were always on the outside with the yellow in the middle. I wonder if Pen is a bit jealous that she is no longer the baby of the family when perhaps she doesn't feel quite up to being a grown up yet? The responsibility might be weighing heavily on her? 🐾😍
 
Stiff Knees said:
I can't really offer any advice Clodagh because I've never been in your situation. It has made me realise though, how easily the Peril's introduction went at 14 months to our then 11 year old and 15 year old and that I can't take for granted that that will always be the case. Spot loved Peril like a mother from day one, Jake was slightly more aloof, as is his way, but within two days they were sharing toys and sleeping in a big multicoloured Labrador huddle. We referred to them as the Oreo's because the 2 blacks were always on the outside with the yellow in the middle. I wonder if Pen is a bit jealous that she is no longer the baby of the family when perhaps she doesn't feel quite up to being a grown up yet? The responsibility might be weighing heavily on her? 🐾😍
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Our dogs talk to each other and us o_O(sorry to sane people out there:rolleyes:...and Pen has always maintained she wants to be the puppy for ever, or maybe a unicorn:p. Yes, she is a working gun dog really!
Silly thing is her and Ffee get on really well, we went for a walk this morning and the played and played until it got boring and I made them stop. None of ours have ever hsared beds, but they are friends I would say. Equally all would be happy as only dogs, I am sure, although Ffee would miss mouth jousting!
 
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